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October 4, 1961.  Walter Rauschenbusch was born in Rochester, NY.  He is considered the father of the Christian social gospel.  From 1891-1892, Rauschenbusch studied economics and theology at the University of Berlin and industrial relations in England, Rauschenbusch’s work influenced, among others, Martin Luther King; Desmond Tutu; and his grandson, Richard Rorty. Rauschenbusch’s view of Christianity was that its purpose was to spread the Kingdom of God, not through a “fire and brimstone” style of preaching, but by the Christlike lives led by its members. Rauschenbusch did not understand Jesus’ death as an act of substitutionary atonement; rather, he came to believe that Jesus died “to substitute love for selfishness as the basis of human society.” Rauschenbusch wrote that “Christianity is in its nature revolutionary” and tried to remind society of that. He taught that the Kingdom of God “is not a matter of getting individuals to heaven, but of transforming the life on earth into the harmony of heaven.” ABHS has a large collection of Rauschenbusch family papers, correspondence, photographs, and lectures.

Archives Month

Here in the state of Georgia, October is designated as Archives Month! Archives Month is a way to celebrate the value of Georgia’s historical records, publicize the many ways historical records enrich our lives, and recognize those who maintain our communities’ historical records. We here at the American Baptist Historical Society work to preserve such diverse materials as missionary correspondence and personal collections, American Baptist Church-USA organizational records, and original church records. Even though our records come from all over the world, we take the time this month to celebrate ALL Archives’ protection and sharing of original and unique records.

September 27.   TODAY:  The American Baptist Historical Society invites you to this year’s annual historical event “Baptist Social Ethics: Looking Back, Looking Forward” Featuring Dr. David Gushee.  Beginning at 7 p.m., this lecture will be held in the AACC Auditorium on the 2nd floor.  (2930 Flowers Road South, Atlanta, GA).    The lecture will be followed by a celebration of ABHS’s 10th anniversary at Mercer.  We will also mark the opening of Dr. Gushee’s papers to researchers.

Sept 26, 1832.  Joanna P. Moore was born in Clarion County, PA.  She became a lifelong teacher of freed slaves.  She taught literacy, started boarding schools for younger students, and homes for the elderly.  Her publication HOPE gave instructions for home schooling, called ‘Fireside Schools’.  Moore also started training schools so others would carry on her teaching legacy.  ABHS has some of Moore’s personal papers, photographs, and issues of HOPE from 1885-1961.

Arthur C. Whitaker, RG 1394

Whitaker was born in Massachusetts, served under General George C. Patton, and received four battle stars before being honorably discharged in 1946. He graduated from Gordon College, Harvard Divinity School and then Andover Newton. Whitaker was the first African American Executive Minister appointed in the ABC-USA. His papers include correspondence, news clippings and his writings.

Sept 23, 1895.  The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, was organized in Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. It was a merger of the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, the National Baptist Convention of America and the National Baptist Education Convention.  Reverend E. C. Morris from Little Rock, Arkansas was chosen as the president of this merged body. ABHS has books and articles about the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, the minutes of their conventions,  as well as several National Baptist periodicals.

Sept 22, 1886.  Ernest and Ida Roscoe arrived at Kodiak Island.  They were the first Baptist missionaries to Alaska.  Among other things, they started a school and the Baptist Mission at Kodiak.  ABHS has a book their son, Fred, wrote of his life growing up in Alaska where there was no local government and no federal control except for customs collections.

Hattie May Price Papers, MP 38

Hattie Price was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was a missionary to Burma. Her collection is comprised of photographs of India, Japan and China from the 1910s.

Hanna Judson Papers, RG 1516

Stanley Hanna and his family donated Adoniram and Emily C. Judson  (pictured here) personal correspondence to the ABHS beginning in 2007. The collection also has a large selection of Emily Frances Judson’s writings and poetry. Emily Frances is the daughter of Adoniram and Emily C.

Sept 19, 1749.  Philadelphia Baptist Association stated its support for local church autonomy.  The Church of England and Methodist church had a defined hierarchy that left little local church autonomy, but the Baptists had only loose Associations, and a local church could choose which Association they wanted to join.  Other decisions like which pastor to call, and who could join the church were decided by the local congregation.  The Philadelphia Association was influential; ABHS has records from this association beginning in 1763.

Sept 18, 1901.  Alderson Academy was founded in Alderson, West Virginia by Emma Alderson, a committed Baptist laywoman. Classes started with 40 students.  As the years passed, Alderson Academy added junior college status. Financial hardship in the late 1920’s led to the decision to merge Broaddus College and Alderson Junior College to become Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillipi, West Virginia.   ABHS has many folders of correspondence about Alderson-Broaddus which is affiliated with the American Baptist Church-USA and the West Virginia Baptist Convention.

Sept 17, 1902.  Joseph S. Murrow organized the Indian Orphan’s Home in Oklahoma.  This was the first Baptist orphanage for Indians.  Murrow also founded Bacone College on which campus the Orphan’s Home was located.  He was 94 when he died, and had been a missionary for 72 years.    ABHS has his obituary which was printed in the Baptist in 1929.

Sept 15, 1799.  A Sunday School was established by Samuel Slater, the first one in the United States.  It was started for the benefit of children employed in Slater’s cotton factory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, teaching them to read from the Bible.  The first class was composed of seven boys.  It began as a secular enterprise, but soon was placed under the care of the First Baptist Church, and began religious instruction. ABHS has minutes from many Sunday School (or Sabbath School) societies from all over the country.

Sept 14, 1791.  The Warren Association in Rhode Island/Massachusetts founded the Massachusetts Baptist Education Society.  Warren Association was very active and vocal about religious freedom.  The Education Society was formed to raise funds to educate promising young men for the ministry.  They had to be educated in local schools.  ABHS has the records from the Warren Association dating back to 1767.

Sept 13, 1651.  John Hazel, of Boston, was one who supported Obadiah Holmes (see September 5), even after he was whipped.  Hazel was arrested and jailed for showing compassion.  He refused to pay the fine of 40 shillings.  In court he repeatedly asked what crime he was being charged with, and managed to refute each charge the court named, like comforting a criminal.  (Since Holmes’ whipping had satisfied the law, is guilt was removed.) Hazel was returned to jail, but when it was clear he would not pay the fine, was finally released.  He wrote of this episode on this day, and a few days later died from illness and age.

William Ashmore Sr. and William Ashmore Jr. (pictured here) were two generations of missionaries to China. Correspondence.  In addition to their correspondence (about 40 folder), we now have clippings and published works of both Williams and their families.   Ashmore Family Papers, MP 1

Susan Haswell was born in the house of Adoniram Judson in Moulmein, Burma in 1844, and when she died in 1923, it is thought that she was the last living link with the founders of the Burma Mission and Judson. Correspondence between Susan to her brother Alanson, and to her sister Julia.  Susan E. Haswell Papers, MP 120